Today's Favorite Verse: Esther 9:20-22, 26

Today's Favorite Verse: Esther 9:20-22, 26
"And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,
To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,"

I wondered if the Jews today honor Purim as a Jewish Holiday? I was happy to see they still do. They exchange gifts of food and drink, make donations of charity to the poor. They eat a celebratory meal with alcoholic beverages known as mishteh. There is a public reading of the scrolls of Esther. There are additions to the daily prayers. Some also apply henna. Some other customs are to wear masks and costumes with public celebrations and parades. It sounds like a very happy and joyous time.

I wondered when Purim was this year. I found it fell at sunset 13th March and ended nightfall the 14th of March. In 2026 it will fall between sunset 2nd March to nightfall 3rd March.

Day 3888